Soot is more aggressive than people realise
Fire soot is acidic. Left on metal surfaces — radiators, light fittings, brass door furniture, kitchen appliances — it begins to etch within days. Left on textiles it sets into the fibre and becomes near-impossible to remove. Our first-attendance priority after a fire is dry soot removal (vacuum-based, not wet), followed by chemical sponge cleaning and finally controlled liquid cleaning for surfaces that survived the dry phase. The aim is to capture as much salvage value as possible for the insurance claim before the soot does additional damage.
Odour is the long tail of every fire job
The smoke odour from a fire can linger for months and is the most common reason for a reinstatement to be rejected by the family. We tackle it in three stages: source removal (contaminated soft furnishings, carpet, underlay, insulation), surface treatment (every wall and ceiling cleaned with an odour-neutralising product), and atmospheric treatment (ozone or hydroxyl generation, typically over 48–72 hours with the property sealed during treatment). At the end of treatment we do a smell-test with the homeowner present, and we don't sign off until they're satisfied.
Working with fire investigation
Where the fire is being investigated by the fire service — most house fires are, though many investigations are short — we will not attend the scene until investigators have released it. We have established relationships with fire investigation officers in every English fire and rescue service and most Scottish services, and we can speed the release process by signalling that a competent forensic-aware contractor is available.
Frequently asked questions
How long does fire clearance typically take?
A single-room fire with smoke damage to the rest of the property usually takes 3–5 days for clearance, plus a further week for odour treatment. A whole-house fire is 2–4 weeks for clearance, longer for the rebuild that follows.
Will my insurance pay for ozone treatment?
Most UK home and landlord insurance policies cover odour neutralisation as part of the fire-damage claim. We provide loss-adjuster-grade documentation of the treatment process and test results before and after.
Can the building be re-occupied during the work?
Usually no — the soot, the smell and the ongoing health hazard mean we recommend alternative accommodation during clearance and odour treatment. Most insurance policies cover this under 'alternative accommodation' costs.
What about firefighting water damage?
Firefighting water is treated as Category 2 (grey) water damage — soft furnishings affected are usually write-off, hard surfaces saveable. We handle the water-damage element of the cleanup as part of the same job, with the same documentation.
My contents are insured but the policy excess is high — is partial clearance possible?
Yes. We can clear and decontaminate the worst-affected rooms only, leaving the rest for the homeowner to address, at a much-reduced cost. We will quote candidly on what is genuinely write-off versus what can be saved with cleaning.